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Planning to take your dog or cat on holiday with you? It’s all very doable but needs some preparation. This guide covers the legal steps every pet owner must follow, what your pet insurance covers overseas, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Published: 4 May 2026
Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from the UK must meet the following requirements before entering the UK. These apply whether you’re travelling by car, ferry or plane, and to most popular holiday destinations including EU countries.
UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid to enter the EU - they’ve been replaced with Animal Health Certificates. It’s a good idea to check the latest government guidance for taking pets abroad before booking a trip. Requirements can change, and incomplete paperwork can mean your pet is refused entry or placed in quarantine at your cost.
Some pet insurance policies include holiday cover for trips abroad, meaning you don’t need to buy separate pet travel insurance. Travel insurance for people does not cover your pet, so your pet insurance policy is the one that matters here.
Our pet insurance includes the following travel cover for your pet:
|
What’s covered |
What this means |
|---|---|
|
Emergency vet fees |
You’re covered for vet treatment if your pet is injured or falls ill abroad, up to your policy limit. |
|
Quarantine and boarding |
Reasonable costs can be claimed if your pet cannot return to the UK due to a covered illness or injury. |
|
Emergency expenses |
Additional costs, such as extended accommodation, are covered if an eligible event delays your return. |
|
Lost travel documents |
Cover for up to £250 towards the replacement of lost or stolen travel documents, such as your AHC. |
Cover typically applies for trips up to 90 days to eligible destinations. Check your policy document for the exact trip limit and list of covered countries.
Many pets with managed conditions travel abroad without problems, but it needs some planning:
Pre-existing conditions are excluded from cover abroad, just as they are at home. But new, unrelated conditions or injuries that occur during the trip are assessed against your policy terms in the usual way.
Your dog has managed arthritis. While on holiday in the Dordogne, he sprains his leg on a walk. Because the sprain is a new injury - unrelated to his pre-existing condition - it can be treated under the overseas emergency vet cover on your policy. The arthritis treatment remains excluded, but the new injury is covered.
You book a vet appointment for your cat 8 weeks before your trip to check her rabies booster, then visit an Official Veterinarian 4 days before your trip for her AHC. In Spain, your cat stays indoors. When she develops a urinary infection during the holiday, you call your pet insurance provider for immediate advice. You get help finding a local vet, and the emergency treatment is covered under your policy’s overseas holiday cover.
A vet emergency in an unfamiliar country is stressful. A little preparation before you leave makes it much easier to get help quickly.
1. Call your pet insurance provider. Our vetfone gives 24/7 access to registered vets and nurses by phone, live chat or video call at no extra cost. Services like this can give you immediate clinical advice before you try to locate a local vet.
2. Find a local vet - research the nearest clinic to your destination before you travel and save the number. Your accommodation or a local tourist office may also be able to help.
3. Contact your pet insurance claims line as soon as possible, so you know what’s covered.
4. Keep all receipts, invoices and treatment records. You’ll need these to make a claim when you return.
Leaving your pet at home - particularly older pets or anxious travellers - is often the more comfortable choice. For advice on choosing kennels or catteries, check out this guide on leaving pets at home when you travel. Whoever cares for your pet should have your vet’s contact details and your insurance policy number in case of emergency.
GB-issued pet passports can no longer be used to enter the EU. For EU travel you now need an Animal Health Certificate issued by an Official Veterinarian - not your regular vet. OV appointments can be harder to get in peak season, so plan ahead. For non-EU destinations, check specific requirements from government websites.
If your pet needs a first rabies vaccination, you must wait at least 21 full days before travelling to the EU, so begin this process at least a month before you travel. An AHC is valid for only 10 days from issue for EU entry, so it must be timed carefully. If your pet’s rabies booster has lapsed, the 21-day wait starts again from the new vaccination date.
If a new illness or injury occurs, contact your insurer as soon as possible and keep records of all treatment. Whether the condition relates to a pre-existing issue will be assessed if you claim. Having good documentation, including a fit-to-travel letter from your vet before departure, will support your claim.
You can travel with up to 5 pets to EU countries on a non-commercial trip. Each animal must meet all the individual travel requirements independently.
UK government advice on taking pets abroad: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
UK government advice on bringing pets to GB: Bringing your pet to Great Britain
About vetfone from Tesco Insurance: Tesco Pet Insurance: vetfone 24/7 vet helpline
Refer a friend if you’re a Tesco Pet Insurance customer. And you’ll both get a £30 Tesco Gift Card as part of our pet insurance rewards. T&Cs apply.
Find out how to manage your policy or make a claim if you have Tesco Pet Insurance.
Tesco Pet Insurance is arranged, administered and underwritten by Pinnacle Insurance Ltd.
vetfone is provided by Vetsdirect Ltd.
You'll find complete details of the cover, monetary limits, exclusions, excesses and terms in our policy documents.
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